Lectern



A. T. LONG Sept. 14; 1948.

LECTERN 5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 24, i947 INVENTOR E N 6 n W12 TM WE@ A. T. LONG LECTERN R. 2 m t N e E e V6 ,.n. WN s 0 a 4 h 4. s

L 3 Num www T. www NN A www w/ H l @mi mw\ m-\ DU /v 1 An .W B M 9 1 um.v. l u J d e 1 .l F

ATTORNEYS.

A. T. LONG Sept. 14, 19.48.

LECTERN 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 24, 1947 lNvENToR. 1155/? 7.- LOA/6.

ATTORNEYS.

front transverse member I4 which underlie the side members.

The rear ends of the side members I2 are pivoted upon the ends of therear transverse member I3 by means of screws I5, as shown in Figure 5,which traverse the cross member I3 upwardly and thread into the sidemembers I2, with the heads I6 of the screws engaging a washer I1 fittingthe screw shank and fitting a counterbore I8 formed in the underside ofthe cross member, whereby the rear ends of the base side members canpivot on the screws I5, when sufliciently loosened, but have no lateraladjust- 4 Y which underlie the plate 36 and have their forward endsfXedly pivoted to forward portions of the plate 36 by screws 49, 49 inan arrangement similar to that of the screws I5. Those portions of therear ends of the pieces 39, 39 which underlie the plate 36 are securedthereto by paired screws 4I, 42 which are arranged on a bias, like andin an arrangement similar to that of the paired screws I9, offthe`base-plate: 9, and for the same purpose of permitting the pin barrels33 to be adjusted toward each other to take up any wear developingbetween the ends ability relative to the rear transverse member I3. i

The opposite end portions of the forward cross member I4 are connectedto forward end porf tions of the base side members'l2 by pairs ofbiasing screws I9 and 20, which like the Ascrews I5, are threadedupwardly into the side members I2 and pass` through ttingwashers I1,However, in order to provide for lateral adjustment of the forwardendsof the base side members I2`, I2 toward and away from each other,the screws I9, 20 being sufficiently loosened, the shanks of the screwsI9, 20 traverse'the forward cross member I4 though relatively largediameter bores 2l, and the screw heads I 6 and washers I1 are seated inrelatively large diameter coun- -terbores 22. By means of thesearrangements the paired hinge pin barrels 23 on the laterally reducedforward ends 24 of the `side members can be adjustedY to take up anywear occurring on their facing ends due to working. contact with theopposite ends of the single pin barrel 25 on the lower or forward end ofthe intermediate sction or bracket plate Ill. Ihe pin barrels Y23, 23and 25 are axially'and slidably traversed bythe hinge pin 2,6, on whoseopposite ends thumb nuts 21, '21 are threaded, which are adapted to betightened toholdthe Aparts in selected position and loosenedV to permittheir adjustment relative to each other.

The laterally inward edges 28 of the base ,side

members I2 aresimilarly cut away orrcontoured to nestv ush therebetweenportions, hereinafter described, of the intermediate plate III and,manuscript supporting plate II.

The intermediate or bracket plate I0 consists of a iiat body,v which maybe of, the same or a different material from the base plate 9, andhaving Aportions 2 9, 3! at its ends of a width Athe sameqas ornot-substantially greater than the span between the pin barrels 23, 23,with the portion 3| intermediate the portions 29 and 39 contoured or cutaway ina manner hereinafter slid-ably traverses the hinge pin barrels 32`and 33, 33 and has thumb nuts 35, 35' threadedon the ends thereof.

The manuscript supporting section orrplate II consists of a flatrectangular plate -or body 36, which may be rounded-or cut away at thecorners at 31, for .convenience -or decoration,v and 'be provided nearits lower end with al forwardly projecting ledge or rib 38 to actas arest for the lower edge of a manuscript or the like laid upon the plateV36. The paired hinge pin barrels 33 are connected to the plate 36 bylongitudinally elongated laterally spaced pieces 39, 39

V of the intermediate or single pin barrel 32 and the paired pin barrels313. In `orderthat the pieces 39, 39 may nest within thev side, membersI2 of the base plate 9, the

outer 'edgesv 43 of" the pieces 39 are contoured shown in Figure 3,wherein' the various coope1 ative contoursdescribed aboveare illustratedas preferably but ,not necessarilyofV curved Vor rounded forms. Whilenot necessary'in all in istances of embodimentof this` invention, 'itfisdesirable that the base'v side members I2, vthe intermediate sectionIII, and the pieces 39 be Aof the vsarne` thickness, and that thethickness of the plate 36 be such thatiwhen the device is 'c ollapsed,it Vwill be no thicker than'the hinge pin,

barrels atthe opposite ends thereof.

It will be understood from the foregoingthat vthe present inventionprovides a lectern or the like of eminently practical and attractiveformand construction, which, barring breakage due tounusual mishandling oraccident, will last several lifetimes, withl no expense for upkeep orreplacement of parts subject to wearzin normal use.

Iclaimz 1`.In`a collapsible lectern, a base section provided with areceiving opening between its sides, a normally inclined intermediatesection-hinged at its lower end'to said base section withinthe forwardend of said receiving opening, a normally inclinedmanus'criptzsupportin'g section compri-sing a manuscriptsupportingplate, a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal pieces andmeans securing said vpieces tothe underside of Asaid plate, said piecesbeing Vspaced to, nest said intermediate section therebetween when saidmanuscriptsupporting,section'istcollapsed ush with said intermediatesection, said pieces and said intermediate section together being of awidth to nest in said receiving openingof the base, with saidman-uscripti supporting plate ush with the said: base when saidmanuscript and intermediate'section's are swung int-o parallelism withsaid base section, and means hinging said pieces to the upper end ofsaid intermediate sectiomY Y A2. In a collapsible lectern, abase sectionprovided -with Ya'receiving opening. between its sides, a normallyinclined lintermediate lsection 'hinged at itslower end-to said basesection withinthe forward end of said receiving opening, .a normallyinclined manuscript supportingsection comprising a manuscript supportingplate, a pair of lat- ,erally spaced longitudinal 'pieces and meanssecuringsaid piecesto the underside of said plateQsaid piecesbeing-spaced tonestsaid intermediate sec.- 4tion therebetween when saidmanuscript support= 'maag-49e 5. iris section is-coilapsedfiusiifwithsaid intermediate section, said ypieces Aand saidintermediate Section together being of a width to4 nest in saidreceiving Lopening ofthe base, with said manuscript supporting platelush with the said base when said manuscript andintermediate sectionsare fsw-ung .into parallelism with said base` section, and means hingingsaid pieces `tei-the upper end efwsaidiintermcdiate sec-tien, :said base`section comprising a rpair of laterally spaced side members, a rearcross member underlying the rear ends of said side members meanspivoting the opposite ends or" said rear cross member to the sidemembers, a front cross member underlying the forward end-s of said sidemembers, pin and slot means securing the opposite ends of said frontcross member to said side members.

3. In a .collapsible lectern, a base section provided with a receivingopening between its sides, a normally inclined intermediate sectionhinged at its lower end to said base section within the forward end ofsaid receiving opening, a normally inclined manuscript supportingsection comprising a manuscript supporting plate, a 4pair of lat-Verally spaced longitudinal pieces and means securing said pieces to theunderside of said plate, said pieces being spaced to nest saidintermediate section therebetween when said manu-script supportingsection is collapsed ush with said intermediate section, said pieces andsaid intermediate section together being of a width to nest in saidVreceiving opening of the base, with said man-uscript supporting .plateHush with the said base when said manuscript and intermediate sectionsIare swung `into parallelism with said base section, and means hingingsaid pieces to the upper end of said intermediate section, said basesection comprising a pair of laterally spaced side members, a rear crossmember underlying the rear ends of said side members means pivoting theopposite ends of said rear .cross member to the side memlbers, a frontcross member underlying the forward ends of said side mem-bers, pin andslot means securing the opposite ends of said front cross member to saidside members and hinge means hinging the lower end of said intermediatesection to the base section comprising p-aired hinge pin barrels on theforward ends of said base section side members, a single hinge pinbarrel on the lower end of sai-d intermediate section positioned betweensaid paired hinge pin barrels, a hinge pin axially slidably traversingsaid single barrel and said paired barrels, and nuts threaded on theends of said hinge pin for clamping the hinge pin barrels so as to holdsaid intermediate section in adjusted relation to said base section,said pin and slot means Ipermitting lateral adjustment of said pairedhinge .pin .barrels through swinging of said base side members on theaxis of said Divot means whereby the inner ends of said paired hinge pinbarrel can be brought into engagement with the opposite ends of saidsingle hinge pin barrel to compensate for wear on such ends preliminaryto tightening said nnger nuts for clamping the intermediate and basesections in a selected adjusted relationship.

4. In a .collapsible lectern, a base section provided with a receivingopening between its sides,

-a normally inclined intermediate section hinged 6 said pieces*beingspaced said intermediate section therebetween ,when `saidmanuscript .supporting section 'is collapsed nush with-fsaid.intermediate section, vsaid pieces and :said intermedia-tesection together being of a width to nest-fin said receiving opening ofthe base, 'with "s-aifd-manul script Isupporting plate lush with thesaid Aba-se when said manusript and intern-iediate sections are :swunginto-parallelism with said base section, and means h'inging said piecesto the upper end of said intermediate section, said securing meanscomprising xed pivot means securing the upper ends of said pieces to anupper part of said plate, and pin and slot means securing the lowerportions of sai-d pieces to the lower part of .sai-d plate and saidhinge means comprising laterally spaced and paired hinge pin barrels onthe lower ends of said pieces below said plate, a single hinge Dinbarrel on the upper end of said intermediate section .positioned betweensaid paired hinge pin barrels, a hinge pin axially slidably traversingsaid barrels and having clamping nuts threaded on its opposite ends,said =pin and slot means permitting lateral adjustment of the lower endsof said pieces on the axis of said pivot means so as in theevent of wearthereon the inner ends of said paired 'barrels can be adjusted intocontact with the opposite ends of said intermediate barrel, preliminaryto tightening said clamping nuts to clamp said barrels together to holdthe intermediate and manuscript supporting sections in a selectedrelationship.

5. In a collapsible lectern, a base section provided with a receivingopening between its sides, a normally inclined intermediate sectionhinged at its lower end to said base section Iwithin the forward end ofsaid receiving opening, a normally inclined manuscript supportingsection comprising a manuscript supporting plate, a pair of laterallyspaced longitudinal pieces and means securing said pieces to theunderside of said plate,

said pieces being spaced to nest said intermediate section therebetweenwhen said manuscript supporting section is collapsed ush with saidintermediate section, said pieces and said intermediate section togetherbeing of a Width to nest in said receiving opening of the base, withsaid manuscript supporting plate flush with the said base when saidmanuscript and intermediate sections are swung into parallelism with.said base section, and means hinging said pieces to the upper end ofsaid intermediate section, said hinge means being of substantialdiameter, said base section, said intermediate section, and saidmanuscript supporting section being relatively proportioned in thicknessso as not to together substantially exceed the thickness of said hingemeans.

6. A collapsible lectern or the like comprising 'i a base section forresting upon a generally horizontal support, said base sectioncomprising laterally spaced side members having curvedly contouredlaterally inward edges providing a receiving opening therebetween, anintermediate section normally extending upwardly at an angle from andhinged by its lower end to one end of said base section, a normallyinclined manuscript supporting section comprising a flat body upon whichthe manuscript or the like can rest and laterally spaced longitudinalmembers secured to the underside of and projecting beyond the lower endof said flat body, the laterally inward edges of said longitudinalmembers of said manuscript supporting section being curvedly contouredto nest said intermediate section there- 7 8 between, and saidlongitudinal members and said Y REFERENCES CITED i Y Y Y mtermedlateseguo bemg curvedly contoured The'followingrreferences are of record intheV to nestA in said receiving openingin said base y section `with thesaid fiat body of the manuscript me of mls patent supporting sectionresting upon the top of said 5 UNITED STATESv PATENTS Y side members ofthe base section when said lecf l tern is collapsed, and means hingingsaid at N11 gkesl MCII; Jann''e'lw body to said intermediate section. g2107579 Ouellette Fei) Y 8 1938 ALBERT T' LONG' 2,261,523 Pickard Nov,4, 1941

